Teacher Asks First-Graders To Stop Talking About God (Photo)

An Indiana teacher instructed her first-grade class refrain from talking about "God," "Jesus" and the "Devil."

The McCordsville Elementary School teacher wrote a letter to the children's parents after a debate about God erupted in her class, reports WXIN.

In the note, she asked parents to talk to their kids about when it's acceptable to talk about religion.

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"With McCordsville Elementary being a public school, we have many different religions and beliefs, and I do not want to upset a child or parent because of these words being used," the teacher explained in the letter.

Some parents were upset by her actions. Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. William "Shane" Robbins clarified how religion should be handled in a public school, saying it's fine for students to talk about their religious views.

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"To simply summarize, MVCSC employees can neither advance nor inhibit religious views," he said. "Trying to limit a student’s view on religion is a violation of a student’s first amendment rights. However, if the discussion becomes an academic disruption, then as a district, we can intervene to maintain the integrity of the educational process while at the same time being sure to not violate a student’s constitutional rights."

It is not clear yet if the teacher will receive disciplinary action.

"From a school vantage point, it was a learning process for a young teacher," Robbins said, reports IndyStar.

The incident drew mixed responses from many.

Some defended the teacher's note.

"School is not the place for religious discussion, unless taking a philosophy or religious studies class," wrote one person on Fox News' comments section. "How would all the 'Christians' like it if their kid came home and told them a child who follows Islam used the words Koran, Mohammad etc.. all day long? They would go into a tizzy. Yes, you would, so stop. It is the same exact reaction the child who follows Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc etc thinks of your kid using all the fancy Christian lingo. So, respect them as you would have your child be respected, and have ALL religious discussion held outside the classroom. That way no one is offended, no one is treated differently, no one religion is singled out."

Others praised the school's response.

"Patriots took a stand and as a result a terrible wrong was made right," wrote conservative commentator Todd Starnes on his blog. "Sadly, in many school districts parents have capitulated and allowed their school districts to become public indoctrination centers for far left activists -- schools where words like 'Jesus' are banned, but words like 'gender fluid' are celebrated."